Negaunee, MI – February 27th, 2019 – The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team opened up postseason play on Wednesday night, when they hosted the Westwood Patriots in a District 66 semi-final! Jesse Anderson had the call for all of the action between the Miners and the Patriots on Sunny 101.9FM.
1st Half:
Both teams came out with intensity in this postseason match-up, right where they left off in their last meeting just a short week ago in this very gym. The Miners led 3-2 over the Patriots early, both squads were playing good defense to start. This game was back-and-forth in the first quarter, as Negaunee led 5-4 with four minutes remaining. Westwood went on a little run, taking a 9-5 lead as the first quarter ticked down. A Westwood shot at the buzzer would fall as they banked it in, and the Patriots had a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
End of 1st: Westwood Patriots 14, Negaunee Miners 7
Negaunee was having a tough time rebounding against the physical Patriots, and they kept giving up second chances. A Westwood basket gave them a 16-9 advantage early in the second quarter. The teams continued to trade baskets, and the Patriots led the Miners 18-11. Negaunee would respond with five straight points of their own within a few minute span, and they only trailed by two. The second quarter was quite the battle, and that’s what the tournament is all about. The Miners stormed back with free throws, and took their first lead since the first few minutes of the game. Neither team would score in the final minute of the half, and Negaunee held a 20-19 lead over Westwood at halftime.
Halftime: Negaunee Miners 20, Westwood Patriots 19
2nd Half:
The Miners came out of the locker room strong, as they extended their lead to five points. Negaunee was playing even better defense in the third quarter, Westwood was having a difficult time scoring. Negaunee led 34-24, as they were on a huge run! A Patriots’ basket cut Negaunee’s lead to eight points with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. After a miraculous buzzer-beater of their own, the Miners led 36-28 heading into the final quarter of play.
End of 3rd: Negaunee Miners 36, Westwood Patriots 28
Negaunee scored the first four points of the quarter, and they led 40-28 with under seven minutes remaining. Westwood would respond with a three-pointer to cut Negaunee’s lead back to single digits. The Miners kept getting big stops, as they controlled the ball up by 11 points with under four minutes left. Negaunee was controlling the ball and trying to run out the clock, but there was still a long game to go with three minutes left. Westwood cut the lead down to nine once again, but the Miners responded with two free throws. The Patriots were forced to foul in the final minute, as they kept trying to extend this game. The Miners kept making their free throws, and that sealed the game! The Negaunee Miners defeated Westwood for the third time this season 56-47, and they were moving on to Friday’s District final!
Final Score: Negaunee Miners 56, Westwood Patriots 47
LISTEN – FULL GAME – MINERS VS PATRIOTS ON SUNNYFM
NEXT GAME: The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team’s next game will be on Friday, March 1st, as they host the Gwinn Modeltowners in the District final! Jesse Anderson will have the call on Sunny 101.9FM, starting with the pregame show at 6:30pm, followed by the game at 7:00!
